Environmental levy

City of Coffs Harbour introduced the Environmental Levy as a means of undertaking environmental management works.

The levy currently raises around $1.3 million per annum for local environmental works at an average cost of $44 per rate payer.

We recognise the value and importance in providing an environmental program that offers and delivers opportunities to help sustain and improve the local environment.

The Environmental Levy Policy sets out the framework for how the funds are allocated.

The Environmental Levy is allocated in two streams: 75% of the  fund is allocated to Major Strategic Projects and 25%  to the Environmental Levy Grants program.

 

Environmental Levy Grants Program

Under the Program, grants are available to community organisations for projects starting from 1 July each financial year, worth between $2,000 and $25,000 per project.

The objectives of the Environmental Levy Grants Program are to ensure that the allocation of Environmental Levy funds support the achievement of the MyCoffs Community Strategic Plan - A natural environment sustained for the future:

  • We protect the diversity of our natural environment (C2.1)
  • We use resources responsibly to support a safe and stable climate (C2.2)

 

For more information, view the Environmental Levy Policy and Environmental Levy Grants Program Guidelines.

Applications for the 2024/2025 Environmental Levy Grants Program are now closed.

Environmental Levy major strategic projects and programs

Major Strategic projects and programs funded by the Environmental Levy are long term and strategically important. They are included in the four-year Delivery Program adopted by Council.

Environmental Levy funding is provided by an annual allocation over the four-year term. The current Delivery Program commenced 1 July 2022.

Areas for consideration include:

  • Environmental Levy Coordination
  • Bush Regeneration
  • Environmental Weed Management
  • Biodiversity Strategies
  • Waterway Health Initiatives
  • Coastal Initiatives
  • Environmental Education
  • Environmental Health and Water Quality Research Initiatives

Projects and programs may be delivered by City of Coffs Harbour or in partnership with or through community organisations, research institutions and/or other government bodies. 

Environmental Levy Major Strategic Projects for 2023/24:

Applicant

Project Name

Amount ($)

City of Coffs Harbour

Conservation & Sustainable Management of the Natural Environment

164,902

City of Coffs Harbour

Environmental Levy Coordination

66,240

City of Coffs Harbour

Improving Diversity within CHCC Bushland Reserves

186,300

City of Coffs Harbour

Management of Key Environmental Weeds within Council Managed Lands

104,535

City of Coffs Harbour

Community Sustainable Living Program

150,810

 City of Coffs Harbour  Park Beach Dune Reduction 100,000
 City of Coffs Harbour  Hearnes Lake Taskforce  70,000
 City of Coffs Harbour  Great Koala National Park Support  15,000

Jetty Dunecare Inc

Boambee Creek to Coffs Creek: Rehabilitation of coastal corridor connections

100,000

Orara Valley Rivercare Groups Management Committee

Orara River Rehabilitation Project

231,782

Coffs Harbour Regional Landcare

Supporting Community Landcare Action in the Coffs Harbour LGA

251,900

Jaliigirr Biodiversity Alliance

Jaliigirr Biodiversity Alliance program support

15,060

Total

1,456,529

 

Successful Projects 2023/24 Environmental Levy Grants Program Round One:

Applicant

Project Name

Amount ($)

Bakker Drive Reserve Friends of the Park Group

Turning a paddock into a park

3,220

Cochrans Pool Urumbilum Rivercare Group

Restoring the Magic to the Magic Pools on the Orara River

25,000

Coffs Harbour and District Local Aboriginal Land Council

Improving Our Coast - Part 4

25,000

Coffs Harbour and District Local Aboriginal Land Council

Improving Garlambirla Bushlands along the Coffs Creek

25,000

Coffs Harbour Regional Landcare

Growing Our Future 2023/2024

24,988

Community Association of Sapphire Beachfront Estate

Improve water quality discharged from detention basin onto Campbells Beach

5,000

First Light Farm

Stage 1 - Habitat Corridor between Conservation Zone and Corindi Creek riparian zone

5,000

Jaliigirr Biodiversity Alliance

Jaliigirr Threatened Ecological Community Restoration: Littoral Rainforest

25,000

Jaliigirr Biodiversity Alliance

Jaliigirr Threatened Ecological Community Restoration: Lowland Rainforest

25,000

Julie Johnson

Stage 2 - Corindi Creek Riparian Restoration

5,000

Nana Glen Landcare Group

Rehabilitation of Nana Glen Travelling Stock Reserve (R39744) Stage III

15,000

Ngiyambandigay Wajaar Aboriginal Corporation

Mangrove habitat and health

18,958

OzGREEN

Rethink Waste Coffs Harbour

24,998

Sandy Beach Action Group

Revegetation and maintenance of Sandy Beach Reserve

19,300

Sandy Beach Action Group

Rain event water monitoring of stormwater outlets on housing developments that drain to Hearnes Lake (variation approved November 2023)

9,421

Southern Cross University

Investigating the toxicity of waters from Charlesworth Bay

25,000

Southern Cross University, National Marine Science Centre

Stormwater discharge impacts on cultural resources in Coffs northern estuaries

19,985

Tallowood Ventures

Giant Barred Frog Mixophyes Iteratus habitat and community awareness program

4,900

Workways Australia t/a Envite Environment

Coffs Harbour Native Seedbank Network

17,138

Workways Australia t/a Envite Environment

Koala habitat enhancement Toormina/Boambee East

25,000

Total

362,908

 

Successful Projects 2023/24 Environmental Levy Grants Program Round Two

Applicant

Project Name

Amount ($)

Coffs Harbour Regional Landcare

Focus on native Flora and Fauna 2023-2024

19,620

Coffs Harbour Regional Landcare

Korora Landcare Nest Box Project

5,460

Coffs Harbour Regional Landcare

Macro-invertebrates in focus

5,475

Coffs Harbour Regional Landcare

Park Beach Littoral Rainforest Regeneration

3,600

Coffs Regional Community Gardens Association

Sustainability Workshops for Coffs Community

17,200

Nana Glen Landcare Group

Invertebrate Water Study of Local Waterways

5,000

National Parks Association of NSW, Coffs Coast Branch

Citizen science ecological education for local community volunteers

25,000

Total

81,355